Falck, Wolfgang Julius Feodor (Oral history)

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Description

Object description

German flying cadet trained as pilot with German Air Transport School in Soviet Union, 1932; officer served as instructor with German Air Force in Germany 1933-1936; served as pilot with 1st Fighter Wing Richthofen in Germany, 1936-1938; commanded II Group, 76th Destroyer Wing in Germany and Poland, 1938-1940; commanded I Group Destroyer Wing in Germany and during Battle of France, 1940; commanded 1st Nightfighter Wing in Germany, 1940-1943

Content description

REEL 1 Background in Berlin, Germany, 1910-1931: family; education; reasons for enlistment in German Air Force, 1931. Aspects of secret flying training as flying cadet with German Air Transport School in Soviet Union, 1932: sources of training aircraft; attitude of Soviets towards German flying cadets; flying accidents; story of accidental killing of collective farm worker on firing ranges; use of Soviet personnel to service aircraft; usefulness of training; treatment of recruits by NCO instructors. Aspects of period as officer with German Air Force in Germany, 1933-1936: reaction in German Air Force to Adolf Hitler becoming Chancellor, 1933; opinion of initial achievements of Nazi regime. REEL 2 Continues: change of Communist support to Nazi party; reaction of German Air Force to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; use of aero clubs for training German Air Force pilots, 1935-1936; question of bluff about strength of German Air Force during invasion of Rhineland, 1935. Aspects of period as officer with 132nd Fighter Wing Richthofen in Germany, 1936-1938: duties as adjutant; question of responsibility of foreign powers for Nazis strength; arrival of first Messerschmitt Bf 109s and his impressions of fighter, summer 1937; reasons for high number of crashes in Messerschmitt Bf 109; relations with Royal Air Force during visit to GB, 1937. REEL 3 Continues: relations with French Air Force. Aspects of period commanding II Group 76th Destroyer Wing in Germany, 1938-1939: taking command of squadron, 1938; arrival of Messerschmitt Bf 110, 1938; his attitude towards Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring; German Air Force loss of confidence in Reichsmarschall Herman Göring; reasons for not participating in Spanish Civil War. Aspects of operations commanding II Group, 76th Destroyer Wing in Poland and Germany, 1939-1940: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; first abortive mission to Kraców area; mistaken identity incidents over Poland; air and ground attacks; aircraft shot down during campaign; area of operations. REEL 4 Continues: his attitude to participating in Polish campaign, 1939. Recollections of operations commanding I Group, 1st Destroyer Wing in Germany and during Battle of France, 1940: attack on Vaerlose Airfield in Denmark in which he shot down a Danish Fokker CV, 4/1940; subsequent emergency landing; prior recollection of shooting down Vickers Wellington whilst opposing Royal Air Force raid on Wilhelmshaven with II Group, 76th Destroyer Wing, 17/12/1939; question of daylight bombing operations; operations against Netherlands, 5/1940; attacks on Royal Navy ships sent to rescue Dutch Royal Family, 12/5/1940. REEL 5 Continues: nature of operations during Dunkirk Evacuation, 5/1940-6/1940; superiority of Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire over Messerschmitt Bf 110; escorting bomber force attacking airfields around Paris, France; story of Royal Air Force pilot who accidentally landed in Germany and was captured. Recollections of operations commanding 1st Nightfighter Wing in Germany, 1940-1943: appointment to role; disagreements with General Josef Kammhuber; first attempts at night interception; reception of his report on night fighting; night interception techniques; introduction of first airborne radar, 1941. REEL 6 Continues: early development of night fighting techniques using radar; evasive action taken by Royal Air Force bombers during night fighter attacks; problems caused by Royal Air Force intruder aircraft; use of electronic devices for homing; use of 'Wild Boar' tactics; morale of night fighter crews and effect of Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring's accusations against them; final role with German Air Force and treatment as prisoner of war by American forces.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Interwar (association), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Falck, Wolfgang Julius Feodor (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1990-03
Dimensions: whole: Duration 180, Number Of Items 6
Catalogue number: 11247

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Falck, Wolfgang Julius Feodor (Oral history)

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